The place didn’t look any better the second time than it had the first. The flashlights provided limited visibility. In the darkness, floorboards creaked and things scurried around our feet. I really wanted to be done with this hunt. “What now?”
“Xavier could see what was happening in Patrick’s house.” Hanna looked around the entry as she talked.
Marni peeked out the window next to the front door. “Well, the properties are only three streets apart. That’s a lot of acreage, but I guess it’s possible.”
“That’s not what I mean. Aubrey comes in and out without keys,” Hanna said.
Marni frowned. “I feel like I should understand what you’re saying but that’s not happening.”
Hanna faced us now. “Secret passageways.”
“Like on spooky television shows?” Marni snorted. “Really?”
“Really. Do you remember Isabel or Xavier ever talking about hidden hallways or rooms?” Hanna asked me, then turned to Marni. “Maybe Victoria mentioned that sort of thing.”
“Wait a second. You think Aubrey has Jeremy hidden in this house? Behind the walls somewhere?” I had to admit that sounded like a very Tanner family thing to do. The whole clan thrived on creepy shit.
Still, I couldn’t imagine Isabel knowing about hideaways and not telling me. She would love showing off that kind of secret because it spoke to a property entrenched in history and brought to mind illegal alcohol stashes and speakeasies and a whole bunch of other wealthy people things that would send her imagination flying.
“Where do we start?” I dreaded asking but did anyway.
“The most obvious place.” Hanna turned and pointed at the massive painting at the top of the stairs, on the landing.
That thing. My mom and I used to make fun of it. Outside of Victoria’s hearing, of course. It replaced a piece Victoria had commissioned before Noah was born of just her and Patrick.Victoria had insisted the whole family sit for this extravagant portrait as a replacement. I had no idea how she got two kids to agree, but they likely didn’t have a choice.
It sat in shadows now and cried out for restoration, but I remembered the details. All four of them dressed like they’d stepped out of a Hollywood period drama. Not relaxed and smiling. Set in the library, the most formal room in the house. Tuxes for Patrick and Noah. Evening gowns for Victoria and Aubrey. Only Victoria looked like she wanted to be there.
She’d said she wanted to capture a moment in time before the kids got too old and moved out. Six months later the whole family disappeared.
“Can we turn on the lights?” Marni asked.
“Not until we know we’re alone.” Hanna shook her flashlight when it flickered. “Gabe. Aubrey. I wouldn’t be surprised if at least one of them is hiding, waiting to jump out.”
Excellent. “You’re really selling this plan of yours.”
But Hanna was already off. She tiptoed up the right side of the first set of steps, delivering a strangled whisper to us from over her shoulder. “Be careful. This could cave in.”
Marni sighed. “I hate this house.”
Yeah, no kidding. “Me too.”
Even as my brain screamed for me to call Lukas or the fire department or someone who thrived on this sort of haunted thing, I followed Hanna. Flinched at every squeak and wobble of the wood. Stopped more than once to breathe through the strange sensation of motion sickness building in my stomach.
I let out a haggard but relieved groan when we left the shakysteps and reached the landing. The platform didn’t bend or give under my weight. It felt solid... sort of. I didn’t test it because I didn’t want to know if I’d reached the wrong conclusion.
We all stared at the family portrait. The flashlight circles roamed over all five feet of the painting.
“They even look uptight in the portrait.” I wasn’t sure I’d said the words out loud until Marni shined her light in my face. “Sorry.”
Marni moved the light to Hanna’s face. “How do we get in or test it or whatever we do?”
“No idea.” Hanna still carried the stick she used to break into the window. She tapped it on the portrait now.
Interesting but confusing. “What are you doing?” I asked.
Hanna stopped poking. “I don’t have a clue. Just winging it.”
“At least you’re honest about it.” Marni felt along the wall and around the frame. “Maybe there’s a button or—”
